Press plate or die for manufacturing phonograph records



Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,258

v T. J. GLovER PRESS PLATE OR DIES FOR MANUFACTURING PHO-HOGEAPH RECORDS Filed sept. v. 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 Wy? @ma 4 Zi/977177255# Jan. 8 1924.

T. J. GLOVER PRESS vPLATE OR DIES FOR MANUFACTURING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. '7 1921 Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

TRUMAN J'. GLOVER, 0F CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERATED'EN- GINEERS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

PRESS PLATE OR DIE FOR LIANUFACTURING,PHONOGRAPH RECORDS.

Application led September 7, 1921. Serial No. 499,017.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, TRUMAN J. GLOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Press Plates or 'Dies for Manufacturing Phonograph Records; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication.

This invention relates to press plates or dies for the manufacture of articles from thermoplastic material and particularly to dies for the formation of phonograph records from such material. 4

In the manufacture of phonograph records a matrix is seated on the lower of two heated dies and a mass of hotl plastic record material poured or otherwise placed on the surface of the matrix. The heated mass is then squeezed between said matrix and a corresponding matrix secured on the other or upper of said dies until the record is formed. When the mass of heated material is first introduced into the dies, said dies are adapted to be heated but immediately after the said material is introduced and subjected to the squeezing pressure, the dies are cooled to harden the record material between them so as to permit the removal of the record from the dies. Steam and cold water are utilized for the heating and cooling operations, respectively.

In this manufacture it is indispensable to secure an even change of temperature over the entire surface of the dies in order to prevent loss from breakage or from the formation of imperfect records and in order to hold the labor charge down to a minimum the changes in the temperature of the dies must be effected as quickly as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a die or press plate whose surface throughout the entire matrix supporting area may be rapidly and evenly heated and cooled, alternately.

A further object is the provision of means for varying the flow of heating or cooling fluids through various portions of the matrix supporting surface of the die whereby the speed at which any portion of the die is cooled or heated may be regulated and a substantially uniform cooling or heating of the plastic material secured.v

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a top plan View of a die yor press plate, the die shownbeing of dual pattern for the formation of two phonograph records of the disk type;

Figure 2 is a top plan View in section on the line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, on the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure et isa section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a to plan view, in section, on the line 5 5 of gi'ig. 6, showing a modified form of die; and

(Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation, inI section, on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

As hereinbefore outlined, two dies are used in the production of the records, but as both are identical in construction, the illustration and description of one only of the dies will suHice for the present purposes.

The diet is of rectangular formation, and

as illustrated is provided with two depressions for the accommodation of two matrices, there being a vertical opening in the die centrally of each of the two depressions for centering the matrices, the latter being secured on the die by suitable means such as the usual clamping ring (not shown) which engages around the edge of the matrix.

Immediately below oneof the matrix receivincr surfaces of the die and preferably extending crosswise the die is a plurality .of fluid conducting channels 7, 8, 9, 10 and l0 which communicate at one side of the die plate with an inlet passage 5, drilled or otherwise formed in the die and vextending longitudinall of the die about half way the latter. eating and cooling fluids are applied to the passage through a pipe 6, an ordinary three way valve (not shown) being interposed in the pipe 6 at any suitable point for alternate supplyof steam and cold water through said pipe.

Water or steam supplied to the inlet passage 5 will be carried across the die immediately below its matrix surface and at their Cil 'number ol drills orot opposite ends the channels 7, 8, 9, 10 and l0 empty Vinto a passage. ll. extending longh tudinally or the die and conniunicating with a second series ol' conducting channels "7, 8, 9, l0 and l0 located immediately beneath the other matrix supporting-surface ot the die.

discharge passage @preferably drilled in alinement with the inlet passage 5, communi- Cates with the second series oit conducting channels,the water or steamllowing 'from the discharge passage to an outlet pipe 13.

It will be observed that a fluid entering through the pipe 6, at a considerable velocity,fwill, because ci its momentum, tend to flow past' the nrst of tie conducting channels to the iiartlier'end of the passage 5 and produce the greater `pressure and llo/w through the channels l0. A less pressure andfflow would, for the same reason, be produced through the channels nearest the entrance Vend-ol' passage and, therefore, if all of the channels were ci equal cross-sectional area, a larger' volume oli' iiuid Wouldttend lo pass 'from the inlet passage 5 through the channels l0 at one side of the matrix supporting surface than through the channels 7 at the otherside et said surface and 4would heat or cool that surface unf-equally.

To' prevent this undesirable condition, the channels areprciferably'arranged in groups and channels 7 in the group `nearest 'the point el ingress of'tluids ii'itopipe 5 are madewith a relati'v'elf;V large cross sectional area.v The Vchannels `8 in the nent adjacent group are made oit somewhat smaller cross sectional area andthe sew-ral channels in the succeeding groups, 9, ll() and l0 are made progressively smaller towards the` inner end `oi passage The Ysaine conditions Would or' 'course' exist With Huid' flowingr fromy passage ll through the second series ol' channels under the other matrix supporting sur- 'liace ol the die, and these'channels are lilrewise arranged-in groups with the channels of the group nearest the point of ingress or" i'luidrmade or relatively large cross sectional area and those ci the succeeding groupsfmade progressively smaller.

lt Will be evident' that this construction of channels 'for obtaining an equal cooling or heating oit the entire 'l'e surtaceis not 'limited'to use with the Ypar yicular form of .die as'it is possible to Vary the size of the channels to accommodate varying volumes et lluids and thus` overcome an une'venness ci' preslsure inthe several channels of a die, regardless ot the construction ot the die and ychannels. Furthermore, the channels of each series` needI not necessari-ly be arranged in groups as' the first channel 7 can be mace comparatively r'large and'each succeeding channel smaller, each channel being of a. different cross sectionalv area, but "it is 'preferred to group the channels as a less her Working tools are required and it would not be necessary to provide a large number of regulating devices, each olf' a dillerent size for Varying the flow ot luid through the conducting channels as-hereinaliter described.

To still liurther-control the flow ofiluid through the channels 7,8, v9, l0 and l0 and provide :tor adjustinent ofV the flow el iiuids therethrough would be necessary should there he a rition.initheinitial pressure or velocity of the duid admitted through pi e 6, regulating means are provided, preferably in the 'form ot conically pointed plugs lll adju'stahl-y secured in the "die With their pointed ends positioned to be adjusted into and kout or' the entry ends of channels l0 or any other oi' the channels as maybe required. As will be. understood, by'longitudinal adjustment oit' thegplugs ll, any of the channels may be partially closedl to throttle the flow oi" lluidl through said channels. The yholes termed betweenA the side ot "the die and inlet passage 4and between the other side of the die and-passage lvl, in drilling the several conducting channels, are closed by plugs 18, but any one ofthese plugs may lreadilylile removed Vfor t-he i-nsertion ci the pointed plugs lll. i

lhere Y van opening 'is -required vertically through the die such as at l5 and it is impossible to for-in a conti-miens transverse channel, as at 9, holes lG are drilled through Yironi the under side orthe'di'e to pierce and remove the Walls between channels 9 and 8, and 9 and l0. These holes v16 are closed from the under side of' the dicby plugs 16 to prevent lluid'escaping, and fluidl flowing through the channels 9 may `by-pass through openings 16 and continue its'ilow through to the passage l1.

This construction Vprovides means by which a lion through-'all parts' olv the fdie or plate may be controlledy to-heatand Icool each part or the die With such speedas may 'be vfound'desi,ral; le, and the largelllow vper# mitted' by this construction enables an eX- ceedingly rapid heatingand cooling-ol the die.

rllie ends of passage ll are closed byr plugs 19.

ln a form ot die Where the ldischarge'is taken from a part of the dieout of line with the inlet, a construction such as shown -in Figs. 5 and '6 may be-fused, in Which the `die et is chainbered to-receive the filou-'ot liquid through an inletpipe 6" into thepassage 5'.' Passage 5 extends practically the entire length ot the die and communicates with all thev channels' ofboth matrin'receiving surfaces and all oiitheseA channels Ldesignated by the numeral 7 lilrer'viseemptyI into a single outletpassage' ll on theA opposite side et the :die and discharging into a pipe 13C Aslin the former construction, channels 7 are made of Varying'cross-sectional areas CJi and any one or more of said channels may be provided with means for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough as described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

However, a similar result may be obtained by tapering the passages 5 and 11 so that the passage 5 is progressively reduced in cross-sectional area in the direction of the flow of fluid therethrough while the passage ll is progressively increased in cross-sectional area in the direction of llow therethrough. The cross-sectional area of each passage is thus varied progressively in inverse ratio to the pressure of the fluid flowing through them. It will be understood of course that the passages 5 and 11 in Fig. l may be similarly tapered in vorder to dispense with the plugs 14 and thereby regulate the flow through the channels so as to maintain an even distribution of the heating and cooling fluids through said channels.

What is claimed is:

l. A die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage therein, a series of fluid conducting channels of varying cross-sectional area communicating with said passage and an outlet passage communicating with said channels.

2. A die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage and an outlet passage therein, and channels connecting said inlet and outlet passages, said channels being variously proportioned to secure a uniform flow therethrough.

3. A die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body formed with an inlet passage, a plurality of fluid conducting channels communicating with said passage, the cross-sectional area of said channels varying respectively in inverse proportion to the relative pressure of the fluid they are adapted to conduct.

4. A die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body formed with fluid conducting passages therein, the cross-sectional larea o1c said passages being variously proportioned in inverse ratio to the relative pressure of lluid flowing through them.

5. A die Jfor shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage therein for heating and cooling fluids, a series of fluid conducting channels communicating with said passage, the channels adjacent the point of ingress of fluid into said inlet passage being of greater cross-sectional area than those remote from said point and an outlet passage communicating with said channels.

6. A die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage therein for heating and cooling fluids, a plurality of fluid conducting channels'eommusaid channels decreasing from one end of the series to the other, and inlet and outlet passages communicating with each of said channels.

8. A disk pressing die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having a passage therein extending inwardly from one wall thereof, a series of luid conducting channels extending transversely of and communicating with said passage, said channels being arranged in groups longitudinally of the passage and the cross-sectional area of' the channels of thev group at the inner end of saidpassage being less than the cross-sectional area of the other channels, and an outlet passage communicating with said channels.

9. A disk pressing die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage therein for heating and cooling fluids, a series of fluid conducting channels communicating with said passages, said channels. adjacent the point of ingress of fluid into said inlet passage being of greater cross-sectional area vthan those remote from said point, an outlet passage communicating with the channels,and regulating means for varying the How of fluids through said channels.

10. A disk pressing die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body having an inlet passage therein for heating and cooling fluids, a series of iluid conducting channels communicating with said passage, the channels adjacent the point of ingress of fluid into said inlet passage being of greater cross-sectional area than those remote from said'point, an outlet passage communicating with the channels, and independently operable means for varying the flow of fluids through said channels.

ll. A disk pressing die for shaping thermoplastic material comprising a body lhaving an inlet passage therein for heating and cooling fluids, a series of fluid conducting channels communicating with said passage,

the channels adjacent the point of ingressv of fluid into said inlet passage being of greater cross-sectional area than those remote from said point, an outlet passage communicating with the channels, and means for varying the cross-sectional area of said channels at the point of communication with said inlet passage, whereby the flow of lluid through any one of said channels `may be regulated.

l'ao

12. A disk pressing dedor ,shaping thepassage for the channels, the @Foss slecfonal moplastm mate-ual compl-wm@ abody ha zuea 01 the channels of each sel-lcs bemg ing' a plu'alty of matrix suruces, a selles .proportioned Iapproximatey to the pioxl0 of ud conducting channels extending unity of the ljespectve channes to the point through said body adjacent Veach matrix of ingress of Huid into said inlet passage. surface, .an mlet passage commumcatmg mth each series of` channels. and an outlet TRUMAN J. GLOVER; 

